Telangana TDP & CPI ready for talks on Congress-led alliance

NEW DELHI: Ahead of TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu meeting with party colleagues, Telangana TDP president L Ramana has said his party favours “talks with Congress and Left” on a grand alliance against the TRS, which has opted for early polls in Telangana.

CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy has also said his party would “welcome Congress’ initiative” for exploring an anti-TRS and BJP alliance.

This even as the Congress leadership has formed a five-member committee to carry out talks with potential electoral allies.

“Telangana TDP leaders feel we should hold talks with Congress and Left parties on the possibility of an alliance to defeat the TRS and BJP. We (Telangana TDP leaders) have already conveyed our feeling to our leader Chandrababu Naidu, who is reaching Hyderabad on Saturday for further discussions,” Ramana told ET.

Ramana’s comment follows AICC in-charge of Telangana KC Khuntia already saying that his party was open for alliance talks with parties other than the TRS and the BJP.

Khuntia told ET on Friday that the Congress has formed a committee comprising of him, PCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, PCC working president and CLP leaders in Legislative Assembly and Council for holding talks with parties for exploring alliance against TRS and BJP. Apart from TDP, the Congress will also hold talks with Left and Telangana Jana Samithi, a regional outfit. CPI central leadership also said the party was open for an alliance.

“CPI in Telangana is for the unity of Left and democratic parties against TRS and BJP. If Congress takes an initiative for this, CPI will welcome it,” party general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy told ET.

The CPI, along with CPM, has pockets of influence in Telangana.

But this swift effort for propping up a grand alliance seems to have put CPM in a bind. For close to two years, Telangana CPM has been working with smaller parties under the banner of Left Bahujan Front, which has already announced its resolve to field candidates on all seats.

CPM sources said that given its state unit has already committed to be part of Left Bahujan Front, the party may find it difficult to “disengage” and join the grand alliance efforts.